Let's leave pessimism for better times

“Let’s Leave Pessimism for Better Times” — by MAAS

This painting was born out of the chaos and confusion of the COVID years. I wanted to capture the strange mix of fear, isolation, and resilience that defined that time — a time when we were told to stay apart, yet somehow learned to hold on to each other in different ways.

The repeated faces, each wearing a mask, represent the segregation we all experienced. We became silhouettes behind fabric, reduced to eyes and distance. The masks here are not only about safety — they also speak about the deprivation of human rights, the loneliness, the rules that separated families, the silencing, and the emotional exhaustion we all carried.

But the colours tell another story. Amid the darkness, there is energy, movement, and life. Every bright stroke is a reminder of how humanity refused to fall apart. Even when we were isolated, we found ways to support one another. Even when we were afraid, we showed solidarity.

I chose the title “Let’s Leave Pessimism for Better Times” as a kind of ironic hope — a reminder that even in the worst moments, we can choose not to drown in darkness. We can choose to resist despair. We can choose connection, creativity, and courage.

This painting is my tribute to that collective resilience — to a world that suffered, struggled, and still kept moving forward.

"Technique painting: Acrylic, Oil, Chalk, Oil Pastels on Canvas and spray paint on canvas 40" by 32"